This month, the California State Senate and Assembly passed the, “Health Care Coverage: Colorectal Cancer Screening and Testing (AB 1763).” This bill, introduced by CA State Assemblyman Mike A. Gipson, has been endorsed by ACG as it shares the College’s goals of removing the financial and structural barriers associated with lifesaving colorectal cancer screenings throughout the screening continuum.

ACG urges CA members to reach out to Governor Brown and urge him to “please sign AB 1763 (Gibson) into law.” You can e-mail the Governor here, or call/fax his office to express your opinion:

We need CA patient advocates: ACG is also working with stakeholders to find patient advocates in CA who are willing to highlight their personal experiences of being impacted by colorectal cancer screening cost-sharing. Please contact ACG now in order to get these patients involved.

We will continue to keep our members up-to-date on the bill’s status, along with any similar legislation across other states.

Consistency at the state and federal level: This bill is also consistent with the SCREEN Act (S. 1079; HR 2035) at the federal level. The SCREEN Act is unique in that the bill addresses patient cost-sharing in two scenarios: if a polyp is removed during a screening colonoscopy, as well as for a diagnostic colonoscopy subsequent to a positive finding from another colorectal cancer screening test. ACG will also continue to fight for lowering barriers to screening and reversing recent Medicare cuts to colonoscopy. Please click here to urge your support for the SCREEN Act.